Electric iron with pilot light



Feb. 1, 1944. w. w. cooNs y l ELECTRIC IRON WITH PILOT LIGHT W mwnn O oyy/@ Oc o o o o o o oo do Filed June 24, 1942 Arrows/5y Patentedreb.1,1944

Iwarren STATES PATENT oFFlcE 2,340,131 y ELECTRIC moN wrm riLo'r LIGHTWilliam W. Coons, New Britain, Conn. Application June 24, 1942, SerialNo. 448,243

4 claims. (c1

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in an electriciron with a pilot light.

It-is proposed that the pilot light be red and be for the purpose ofnotifying an operator that the iron is ready to be used. An importantadvantage resides in the fact that the red pilot light reminds theoperator Whether or not the switch is on or offend thus shows if currentis ilowing through the-iron. It acts as, a watch man on duty and is inreality a signal as well as an indicator. If the switch is on and itfails to light it shows that either the iron is defective or there issomething defective with the pilot light itself.

. sales item.

An important feature` of the invention resides in so mounting andshielding-the pilot light that it will not be injured by the kheat fromthe iron.

The invention contemplates various ways of mounting and shielding thepilot light for this purpose. The invention also contemplates numerousadditional constructions in the interior of the iron.

For further comprehension of this invention,

and of the objects and advantages thereof, refer-- ence will be had tothe following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appendedclaims in which the various novel features of the invention are moreparticularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:y

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of an electric iron with a pilot lightin accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view ofthe iron base plate of the electric iron.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional and perspective view of the electricheating unit of the iron.

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of Fig. 3. l

Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the top plate shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of the mechanism whichsupports and operates the pilot light.

Fig. 'l is a view locking ln the direction of the line 'I-l of Fig. A1.

Fia. 8 is a side elevational view of an electric iron with a pilot lightconstructed according to a modied form of the invention.

The electric iron with the pilot light, in accordance with thisinvention, includes an iron base plate I0 having a recessed top portionily which is provided with a pair of spaced threaded bosses I2 along itslongitudinal center line. An

electric heating unit I3 is locatedon said base plate I0 and includesatop insulation plate I4 and a bottom insulation plate I5. A heatingwinding I6 is located within a groove I'I formed in the bottom face ofthe top plate I4. This heating winding starts at a contact prong I8' Theinsulation platesv I4 and I5 of the heatingk unit I 3 are preferablyconstructed of glass porcelain or other similar insulating material.'I'his construction permits the contacts 2l to be cast as a unit withthe insulation plates with the heating winding I8 in position betweenthe plates. Insulation plates so constructed are sturdy, strong-anddurable and are not subject to the disintegrating or crumbling eiIect'sof continued use or unfavorable weather conditions. High temperatureswill not cause these insulation plates to smoke or throwoff undesirableVor unpleasant odors due to the elimination of chemicals commonly foundin the old types of insulation members. These insulation plates I4 andI5 are indestructible because there can be no chemical reaction causedby the high temperatures thus eliminating the possibility of shortcircuits in the heating element. The top insulation plate I4 may be castwith bridges extending across the grooves I1 to maintain the heating Y'I'he pilot light 22 is threadedly mounted in a v metallic shell 21which is 'fixedly mounted in an insulation member 28 vertically slidablymounted in a boss 29 formed downwards from the top wall of the housing24. insulation member 28 has a bottom flange 30 which works in a recess3| formed in the boss 29 and serves to limit the top position of theinsulation member 28.A The insulation member 28 is also formed with anopening 32 extended inwards from its bottom end. A heavy, black Bakeliteinsulation washer 33 is located in the top of the opening 32.

The insulationk washer 33 has a contact 34 which engages the end contactof the lamp 32 when the latter is mounted in the shell 21. The contact34 is connected with one of the leads 23. The other lead 23 is connectedwith the shell 21. Thus the electric circuit is completed. An expansionspring 35 is disposed within the opening 36 and normally acts to urgethe insulation member 28 into a raised position. This spring 35 isinsulated from the leads 23 by insulation tubes 36 and 31 whichtelescopically engage each other, and which are mounted respectively onthe insulation washer 33 and on the top wall of the electric heatingunit I3.

.A nger 36 engages the flange 30 and also engages a longitudinal slot 31formed in the outer face of the insulation member 28. This linger 36 isthreadedly engaged on a steep angle screw 38 which is rotatively mountedthrough the boss 29. A head 39 is mounted on the top end of the screw 38and has a small peg 40 extending downwards and normally engaging in asmall opening- 4| formed in the top of the housing 24. The screw 38 isslightly slidable in the vertical direction. It has a bottom head 42which is slightly spaced from a support 43 on the boss 29. A spring'44acts between the support 43 and the head 42 for" normally urging thescrew 38 downwards.

In the event that. the electric iron is going to be used on high heat itis advisable that the head 39 be pulled upwards to disengage the peg 4Ufrom the opening 4| and then the head -39 should move upwards. Thegroove 39 prevents the lnsulation member 28 from turning. However, theinsulation member 23 will be moved upwards to follow the finger 36 bythe expansion action of the spring 35. This raises the pilot light 22.as for example indicated by the dot and dash lines 22 in Fig. 1. A heavyblack Bakelite washer 45 is mounted on the top of the insulation member28 around the pilot light 22 to help protect it from the heat. Thewasher 45 is black in color while the pilot light is red in color. Thiscombination results in a contrast of color which adds to the appearanceof the iron. The electric iron is provided with a handle 46 which issupported by side brackets 41 mounted on the top of the housing 24 andheld in position by the screws 25.

The rear of the housing 24 is formed with an upwardly inclined tubularextension 50 into `which the conventional connection plug is adapted tobe engaged for supplying the necessary current to energize the heatingwinding I6 through the medium of the contact prongsA i8 and I9. Theinterior of the extension 50 is provided with four upwardly extendingleaf springs 5|. -These leaf springs 5| have their bottom ends securelyattached to the walls of the extension `5|! and their top ends bulged at52. When the conventional connection plug (not shown on the drawing) isengaged into the extension 50 the bulged portions 52 of the leaf springs5| will engage the sides of the plug and frictionally be turned toindirectly cause the linger 38 to asaonav maintain -the plug in positionwithin the extension.

'I'he operation of the device is as follows:

When the iron is being used the pilot light 22 will be illuminated. Thisindicates to the operator that the current is passing through the iron.It serves to prevent the operator from forgetting this fact and allowingthe current to pass through the iron when it is his intention to have itturned olf. i

In Fig. 7 a modified form of the invention has been disclosed whichdistinguishes from the prior form in the fact that the handle 46 ismounted in position on the iron with brackets 41. One of these brackets41 is hollowed out so that a .post 48 may extend into it. The pilotlight 22=l is mounted on this hollowed out bracket 41', and iselectrically connected with leads with the heating Winding of theelectric heating unit i3. through the hollow post 48. In other respectsthis form of the invention is identical to the previous form and likeparts are indicated by like reference numerals.

The operation is also identical tothe prior form. When the current ispassing through the electric iron the pilot light 22a will beilluminated. However, in this form of the invention the means forprotecting the pilot light 22n from receiving excessive heat comprisesthe construction whereby it is raised abovel the top of the housing 24.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of myinvention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise constructions herein disclosed and the rightfis reserved to allchanges and modificavtions coming within the scope of the invention 'asdefined in the appended claims.

-sulation plates and a heating winding between said insulation platesand being continuous from a pair of contact prongs except at one pointwhere -there is a break, a housing with a handle mounted on said baseplate and covering said heating unit, a pilot light mounted on saidhousing and electrically connected across -said break in said heatingwinding, and means for protecting said pilot light from too much heatfrom said electric iron, comprising an insulation member mounted on saidhousing and supporting the pilot light, and means for extending saidinsulation, including a manually turnable screw, a follower finger onsaid screw normally engaging said insulation member to hold it lowered,and resilient means urging said insulation member upwards.

2. An electric iron with pilot light comprising an iron base plate, anelectric heating unit on said base plate and having top and bottominsulation plates and a `heating winding between said insulation platesand being continuous from a pair ot contact prongs except at one pointwhere there is a break, a housing with la handle mounted on said baseplate and covering said heating unit, a pilot light mounted on saidhousing and electrically connected across said break in said heatingwinding, and means for protecting said pilot light from too much heatfrom said electric iron, comprising an insulation member mounted on saidhousing and supporting the pilot light, and means for extending saidinsulation, including a manually turnable screw, a follower fmger onsaid screw normally engaging said insulation member to hold it lowered,and resilient means urging said insulation member upwards, and means forholding said screw against accidentally turning.

3. An electric iron with pilot light comprising an iron base plate, anelectric heating unit on said base plate and having top and bottominsulation plates and a heating winding between said insulation platesand being continuous from a pair of contact prongs except at one pointwhere there is a break, a housing with a handle mounted on said baseplate and 4covering said heating unit, a pilot light mounted on saidhousing and electrically connected across said break in said heatingwinding, and means for protecting said pilot light from too much heatfrom said electric-iron, comprising an insulation member mounted on saidhousing and supporting the pilot light, and means for extending saidinsulation, including a manually turnable screw, a follower linger onsaid screw normally engaging said in` sulation member to hold itlowered, and resilient means urging said insulation member upwards, andmeans for holding said screw against accidentally turning, said screwbeing slightly vertically slidably' supported, said latter means,comprising a head mounted on the upper end of said screw by which it maybe turned, a pin mounted on said head and engageable with acomplementary opening formed in said iron, and resilient means urgingsaid screw downwards to retain said pin in said opening, so that bymanually raising said screw said pin will be disengaged from saidopening so said screw may be turned.

4. An electric iron with pilot light comprising an iron base plate, anelectric heating unit on said base plate and having top and bottominsulation plates and a heating winding between said insulation platesand being continuous from a pair of contact prongs except at onepointwhere there is a break, a housing with a handle mounted on said baseplate and covering said heating unit, a pilot light mounted on saidhousing and electrically connected across said break in said heatingwinding, and means for protecting said pilot light from too much heatfrom said electric iron, comprising an insulation member mounted on saidhousing and supporting the pilot light, and means for extending saidinsulation, including a manually turnable screw, a follower ringer onsaid screw normally engaging said insulation member to hold it lowered,and resilient means urging said insulation member upwards, and means forholding said screw against accidentally turning, said screw beingslightly vertically slidably supported, said latter means, comprising ahead mounted on the upper end of said screw by which it may be turned, apin mounted on said head and engageable with a complementary openingformed in said iron, and resilient means urging said screw downwards toretain said pin in said opening, so that by manually raising said screwsaid pin will be disengaged from said opening so said screw may beturned, said follower finger being engaged with a vertical slot formedin said insulation member so that said screw may be raised slightlyrelative to said insulation member when desired. y

v WILLIAM W. COONS.

